A gift to muslim women

An excerpt from A Gift to Muslim women by Br.Mustafa George

via Gems and Jewels

If a believer were to read some of the situations of the companions, including men and women, he would immediately be reminded of how one should implement his religion and remain steadfast upon piety and righteousness. There are numerous examples which display this and it only requires that one spends some time and reads.

From the various examples present in the Sunnah of strong eemaan, and firmness upon the religion is a brief encounter between one of the female companions and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Her name is Asma bint al Yazeed bin al Sakn al Ansariyah, and she was nicknamed: Khateebatun Nisaa – The Female Lecturer, due to her eloquent manner of speech. Asma was the niece of the famous companion and scholar Mua’th bin Jabal and she was well known for her uprightness and sound intellect. She nursed the wounded Muslim fighters during the Battle of al Yarmook and when the fighting became intense, she grabbed an iron spike from her tent and began fighting alongside the Muslim army, killing nine Roman fighters.

 

Al Hafith Ibn Abdul Bar[1] mentioned concerning her[2]:

It is mentioned that Asma bint al Yazeed approached the Messenger of Allah and said: I am a messenger for a group of females. All of them say a similar statement to mine, and they all are in agreement with my opinion. Indeed Allah has sent you to men and women, and we have believed in you and we follow you. We (females) are responsible for tending to the homes and we are the place where men fulfill their desires, in addition to carrying their children (during pregnancy). But the men are preferred over us due to the merits gained for attending the Friday congregational prayer, attending burial procedures and also fighting in the way of Allah. If they leave their homes, we protect their wealth and we also raise their children. (With this being the case) do we take part in their tremendous reward, oh Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم?

Upon hearing this, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  turned toward his male companions and said: Have you ever heard a female inquiring about her religion in a better manner than this female?

The companions replied: Indeed we have not, oh Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم!

 

The Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم  then replied to her:Return oh Asma, and inform the group of females that being a good wife to your husband, exerting yourself to please him, and have him pleased with you is equivalent (in reward) to all of what you have mentioned concerning the men!

Asma walked away saying: La illaha ilAllah, Allahu Akbar, do to the extreme joy she felt after hearing the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم  reply.

 

Several benefits are derived from this hadeeth, from them:

1. The great eagerness of the female companions to learn their religion. They did not allow questions and doubts to remain unanswered. This is also illustrated in the statement of ‘Aaisha when she said:

نِعْمَ النِّسَاءُ نِسَاءُ الأَنْصَارِ لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُنَّ الْحَيَاءُ أَنْ يَتَفَقَّهْنَ فِي الدِّينِ 

How great are the Ansar women! They did not allow shyness to prevent them from learning their religion. (Sahih al Bukhari: 129)

2. The permissibility of a female speaking to a person of knowledge even while in the company of other men if need be. The female should of course make sure she does not speak in an attractive manner. Allah – The Most High – said: {And do not be soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire. But instead, speak in an honorable manner.} Surah al Ahzaab:32

3. This hadeeth is an example of how the women during the time of the Messengerصلى الله عليه وسلم  gathered to discuss matters of their religion. This undeniably is a lesson for present day Muslim females. They should make their meetings with their sisters the type of gatherings which contain profit and benefit, not that which contains evil and harm.

4. This encounter displays the tremendous mercy of our beloved Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم . He did not interrupt Asma, nor did he scorn her for asking such a question, but rather he acted exactly how Allah described him in the Qur’an: {We have only sent you as a mercy to the worlds.} Surah al Anbiyah: 107

And He – The Most High – said: {Indeed there has come to you a Messenger from amongst yourselves. It grieves him that anything should harm you, and he is anxious over you. He is kind and merciful to the believers.} Surah al Tawbah: 128

5. This story informs how a believer should react after hearing pleasing news. Asma immediately remembered Allah, glorifying and praising Him due to the tremendous news which she received from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم  .

6. It also shows her strong eemaan in the promise of Allah. She understood that Allah is All Just, and that He would never allow injustice. She truly believed the statements of Allah:{Indeed the promise of Allah is true, but most do not know.} Surah Yunis: 55

And His statement: {Be patient, for indeed the promise of Allah is true.} Surah al Room: 60

And His statement: {Oh mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is true, so do not be deceived by the life of this world and do not allow anyone to deceive you.} Surah al Faatir: 5

Asma, like any and every Muslim female was afflicted with tremendous difficulties and tribulations, but she was able to overlook that which befell her by keeping the goal in mind! [3]

7. This narration is a response to those who claim that women were created no different from men, and therefore they should be allowed to do everything a man does. Unfortunately many Muslim females hold this view due to the fact that it has been instilled in the minds of our women by means of various forms of propagation and education throughout the Western society.

This narration indicates that Allah created the female distinct from the male, and He has assigned her with different duties which are for the benefit of herself, the family and the overall society. It is upon her to act within the limits which Allah – The All Mighty – has legislated, and if she does so in a manner pleasing to Him, she will enter an everlasting paradise. But if, on the other hand, she seeks to exceed the limits which Allah has legislated, she will damage herself, her family and the Muslim society as a whole! Allah – The Sublime – stated:

أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ 

{Does not the One Who created you know. And He is the Most Kind, the All Aware.} Surah al Mulk: 14

And He stated:

أَأَنْ مْ تُ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ اللَّه

{Are you more knowledgeable or is Allah.} Surah al Baqarah: 140

Without a doubt many more benefits can be derived from the narration of Asma bint al Yazeed. These were only a few which we felt the need to mention.

In Conclusion: This short narration is a great encouragement for our Muslim sisters. We all are aware of what occurs in the daily life of a Muslim female within the home, and outside of it. She is afflicted like no other person, as was indicated by Asma in the above narration, but what should be kept in mind is the statement of the Prophet :

إن عظم الجزاء مع عظم الب ء وإن الله إذا أحب قوما ابت هم ﻼ ﻼ

“Indeed the greatness of reward is according to the greatness of the trial, and when Allah loves a person, He tests him.” (Tirmidhi: 2396)

We ask Allah to increase us in eemaan and taqwa, and we ask Him to grant us success to perform actions which are pleasing to Him.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family members and companions.

 

Footnotes:

[1] Al Hafith Ibn ‘Abdul Bar is a famous scholar of the Malikee school of thought. He authored many beneficial works including: Al Temheed, Jam’ee Bayan al ‘Elm wa Fadlihe, and many more. He died in Morocco/Spain in the year 463h.

[2] Al Esti’aab vol.4 pg.233

[3] We are not referring to clear, unjust oppression which takes place in some Muslim families. Indeed Allah has forbidden such oppression (harsh beating, cursing, etc) and any female who is afflicted with this has every right to seek separation after repeated advice and consultation has failed.

Taken from :  A Gift to Muslim women by Br.Mustafa George (may Allah preserve him and reward him abundantly for his efforts)